You’ll know a typical car accident by what comes next; outpouring emotion from both parties in which both sides claim it wasn’t their fault and they meant no harm, but yet and still, the accident has occurred.

From this point, police and various third-party inquirers will come and conduct an ongoing investigation to take in every bit of evidence and form a case for or against you. Here are the 4 most important rules to abide by that can help make or break a case.

1. Remain silent:

The accident just occurred, you feel tense, and you probably have a lot to say. But here’s a tip, don’t. To be more specific, say only what is requested by the police officers/investigators, but swallow any overly emotional words about how you feel about the accident. This ranges from words of frustration at the opposing party to even words of remorse and sympathy. Even if you know you’re not at fault, these words are considered a display of your state of mind, which can be used to sway a case.

2. Seek immediate medical attention (whether you think you need it or not):

Say after the event of an accident, you’re able to get out of your car with little effort so you think you’ve sustained no major injuries. After communicating with investigators, you ultimately feel well enough that you don’t think you need to seek medical attention over a seemingly non-existent injury. But if the injury you didn’t notice earlier becomes more pronounced over time and if you haven’t sought a post-accident examination, the other driver’s attorney can belittle the seriousness of your injuries, claiming you didn’t think it was serious yourself.

3. Maintain maintenance on the vehicle: 

Before the accident even happens, if your vehicle isn’t in the state it should be, then despite all your good defensive driving, your vehicle can decide its next move for you at any given moment, and that move can result in the accident you didn’t want. Even if you manage to get from point A to point B every day with an engine that overheats every now and then, since it is your responsibility to maintain the functional state of your vehicle, evidence of an ill-maintained car can be used against you.

4. Don’t dispose of or lie about important evidence:

You may have heard stories that someone was in a personal injury case and was found at fault because it was discovered they were prescribed the medication you just so happen to have. You know you’re not at fault, but you may feel compelled to dispose of and hide the fact that you have been prescribed the same medication to avoid the same fate. Investigators will discover the prescription eventually, and if it comes to light that you’ve lied about it, your integrity goes right out the window along with your case.

These tips are normally considered “no-brainers,” but that’s exactly why they’re incredibly easy to forget. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be helping your personal injury attorney win your case before it even begins.